It’s a code name for Limbaugh’s campaign to persuade Republicans to temporarily re-register as Democrats in some of the later state primaries. On Election Day, his political soldiers were instructed to cast votes for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., not Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Limbaugh wants to keep the Democratic Party’s nomination process in the political fog and, in theory, help presumptive GOP nominee and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., win the presidency in November. With the GOP nomination settled months ago, Republicans have nothing to lose by jumping into the enemy camp.

Leach theorizes in her piece that Limbaugh’s tactic may have had some success in Pennsylvania on April 22, where an disproportionately high number of Republicans switched parties at the last minute and voted in the Democratic primary.

A lot of Democrats pooh-pooh the notion that one radio host could alter the outcome of an election.

But Leach isn’t so sure.

“Conventional Democratic wisdom discredits the tactics of individuals like Rush,” Leach wrote to me in an e-mail. “My feeling is that while we disavow the tactician, we ignore the tactics at our peril.”

Golly gee, that Rush-bo is a clever dude! Too slick for straight-as-an-arrow libs! And Barack learned politics in Chicago??!

RR

Golly gee, that Rush-bo is a clever dude! Too slick for straight-as-an-arrow libs! And Barack learned politics in Chicago??!

Rich Verrilli

There is both truth and relevance here. Limbaugh’s chaos was to have Republicans vote for Hillary with the effect of prolonging the Democratic contest for the Presidential nomination. Considering the closeness of the vote in Indiana this may have been the precise result. Had Obama won Indiana I think Hillary would have had to withdraw, thus allowing Obama to concentrate on McCain.
Rich Verrilli

Rich Verrilli

There is both truth and relevance here. Limbaugh’s chaos was to have Republicans vote for Hillary with the effect of prolonging the Democratic contest for the Presidential nomination. Considering the closeness of the vote in Indiana this may have been the precise result. Had Obama won Indiana I think Hillary would have had to withdraw, thus allowing Obama to concentrate on McCain.
Rich Verrilli